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THE LEVANT – Iranian television published a rare picture Monday of its elite Quds Force chief in Iraq that was widely circulated online, puncturing the mystique of one of the region’s most powerful men.

The image of Major General Qassem Suleimani purportedly showing him on an Iraqi battlefield was published on the website of IRINN state television, and repeatedly shared on Twitter.

Grinning widely, Suleimani, easily identified by his greying hair and beard, was seen standing alongside Kurdish peshmerga fighters. IRINN did not say where the picture was taken.

Iran initially denied Suleimani was in Iraq, but several pictures used in official media have appeared to confirm his presence near battles against militants from the Islamic State group (IS).

As its leader, Suleimani is seldom mentioned in Iranian media, but he has cultivated a reputation as one of the most influential security operatives in the Middle East.

Since the Iraqi government was caught out by the IS surge this summer, Iran has played a key role in trying to roll back the jihadist offensive, sending military advisers and arms across the border.

Suleimani was previously pictured near the Iraqi town of Amerli, which Kurdish fighters, Shiite militias and the Iraqi Army liberated on September 1. Again, the images were circulated on social media.

A senior Iranian justice official also recently stated that Suleimani was present during fighting near Arbil alongside Kurdish forces in early August, going against his reputation for remaining out of sight.

“He is indeed like Keyser Soze,” a senior US official once said, comparing Suleimani to the seemingly invisible character portrayed by Kevin Spacey in the film “The Usual Suspects”.

The Iraqi military’s collapse at the hands of Sunni Muslim militants near Iran’s border invokes fear in Tehran.

Bonded by Shiite Islam, Iran and Iraq have grown closer in the realms of government and security since the overthrow of Sunni leader Saddam Hussein in the US-led invasion of 2003.

Iranian media regularly report the death of Iranian “volunteers” killed in Syria and Iraq in fighting against jihadists. The authorities claim the combatants are there of their own choosing to protect Shiite holy sites.